Timed Out errors are usually associated with Third Party Anti-Virus software that's installed on a computer. Please attach a screenshot of the error you are getting along with the name of your AV software if you're running any.

Frisee, thanks for your response. I use the free Avast program for virus control. The error message is as follows: "C:\Users\meown\OneDrive\Pictures\Screenshots\Screenshot (5).png"

Now excuse my ignorance; "how do I send a photo of the screen?" There doesn't seem to be an insert button or an attach one. Doubt you can do anything with this link????

Anyway, message reads;

Send message error The message could not be sent because the connection to Outgoing Server (SMTP) smtp.themessagingco.com.au timed out. Try again

In port is 993 and Out port is 465

Thanks in advance John

Are you still having this problem? A couple of the things you mention make me think this could be caused by you using a VPN. Try turning it off if that's the case.

If not, post a screenshot of both your incoming (POP/IMAP) and outgoing (SMTP) server settings, so we may verify they're correct.

Read the following articles in the meantime to see other possible causes of these problems:

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/cannot-receive-messages https://support.mozilla.org/kb/cannot-send-messages

"how do I send a photo of the screen?"

Use the Browse button below the 'Post a Reply' box where you write your post.

David, I have turned off VPN and it makes no difference. Just now when I opened my mail provider the message that came up was "could not connect to imap.themessagingco the connection was refused." Both my gmail and internode addresses have been refused. Screenshots attached. My previous correspondent asked about virus protection and I said I used Avast. I did not hear back but have also read that they can cause problems. Thanks for your response. John

Sorry for the late reply. I'll check more carefully when I have a moment, but the incoming server settings appear to be correct. The outgoing (SMTP) settings are clearly wrong, though. According the configuration settings published in the article below, the SMTP port should be either 465 or 587, and then you have to choose the right type of connection security for that port. You mistyped port 557 there…

https://support.themessaging.co/hc/en-au/articles/7879726922639-Mail-server-settings

Thank you David. I'm afraid I sent you an outdated outgoing address. Since that one the Co had retracted their advice. Here are the current ones I'm trying to use with no success. John

The server settings for internode.on.net addresses used to be these:

https://www.postbox-inc.com/setup/email-settings/access-internode-on-net-via-imap-smtp

Did you ever use those settings in Thunderbird? Not saying you should use those settings, since Internode email services were transferred to The Messaging Company, but I'm wondering if you ever used those settings and they worked before, then you were told to use The Messaging Company servers instead…

And did you say in your previous reply that Gmail stopped sending too? Didn't that one work before?

David, just out of curiosity tried the Internode server addresses and ports. Nothing helpful. Strange that messages say "access has been refused". I've never really used my gmail account but looking now can see lots of in-mail from people like fitbit so it was working from 2021 until Jan 2025 when I bought this laptop. Took it back to Harvey Norman today. Their gun was not able to solve the issue. John